When Gaps Between Teeth (Interdental Spacing) and Periodontal Disease Occur at the Same Time: An Explanation of Implant Treatment at Songjeong Station Dental Clinic

Hello,

I am Director Yeo Sang-ho of Songjeong Station Dental Clinic.

The condition in which the space between teeth widens,

interdental spacing,

is often regarded simply as

a cosmetic issue.

However, when this symptom

appears together with periodontal disease,

it becomes a complex problem that can have

serious effects on overall oral health.

That said, this can occur

for various reasons.

It may happen when there is a congenital imbalance

between the size of the jawbone

and the size of the teeth,

or when teeth are congenitally missing.

What should be examined carefully, however,

is interdental spacing caused by periodontal disease.

As periodontal disease progresses,

inflammation develops in the gums

and alveolar bone surrounding the teeth.

The toxins released from plaque

and calculus formed by bacteria

continuously irritate the gum tissue,

and over time, what begins as simple gum inflammation

can destroy the periodontal ligament

and even the alveolar bone.

At this point, as the alveolar bone is resorbed

and weakened,

the function that firmly supported the teeth

decreases significantly.

Songjeong Station Dental Clinic treatment period: 2023.05.12~2024.02.14

In particular, the front teeth area

shows these changes more prominently

because of the way chewing forces are concentrated there.

Teeth being pushed forward or spreading out in a fan shape

are typical examples,

and in such cases,

simple periodontal treatment alone is often insufficient

to solve the problem fundamentally.

When interdental spacing and periodontal disease

occur at the same time,

systematic examinations are necessary

for an accurate diagnosis.

After first evaluating the degree of visible spacing

between the teeth and the condition of gum inflammation,

a test is performed to measure the depth of the periodontal pockets.

The normal depth of a periodontal pocket is about 2-3 mm,

but when periodontal disease progresses,

it becomes deeper than 4 mm.

In severe cases, it can deepen to 6-7 mm,

and these figures are important indicators

for objectively assessing the extent of periodontal disease progression.

In addition, tooth mobility is evaluated

through a test to see how much the tooth moves.

It is classified by stage,

and a natural tooth showing severe mobility

is judged to be in a condition that is difficult to preserve.

At this point, changes in the position of the natural tooth

and functional problems must also be considered.

Through radiographic imaging,

the degree of alveolar bone resorption

and the condition around the tooth root

are analyzed in detail.

If alveolar bone resorption has progressed

to more than two-thirds of the root length,

or if the alveolar bone around the tooth

has been extensively destroyed,

the long-term prognosis for that area

is evaluated as poor.

In such a state,

it can become a source of persistent inflammation

and negatively affect adjacent healthy teeth as well. When interdental spacing and advanced periodontal disease

appear at the same time,

careful treatment planning requires

comprehensive consideration of multiple factors.

The first thing considered is

the possibility of preserving the affected tooth.

When alveolar bone resorption is severe

and tooth mobility reaches grade 3,

it is difficult to expect long-term success

with conservative treatment.

There are several reasons why implant treatment

is considered in this situation.

First, leaving a tooth in place when it cannot be preserved

can make it a source of ongoing inflammation

and damage the surrounding teeth and jawbone.

Second, after extracting a tooth,

if the space is left as is,

the adjacent teeth may move into the empty space,

worsening the overall dental alignment.

For these reasons, at Songjeong Station Dental Clinic,

we believe it is necessary to quickly resolve the problem

by distinguishing between areas that can be preserved

and those that cannot.

Implant treatment in cases accompanied by

periodontal disease and interdental spacing

is carried out in stages. First, periodontal treatment is performed

to control acute inflammation.

Calculus is removed through scaling,

and if necessary, root planing is performed

to remove calculus and inflammation from the root surface.

Extraction of teeth that cannot be preserved

must be planned carefully.

During the extraction process,

damage to surrounding tissue is minimized,

and for future implant placement,

in some cases bone grafting is performed at the same time as extraction

to secure sufficient bone volume for implant placement.

Before implant placement,

gum inflammation must be controlled.

If an implant is placed while inflammation is present,

the risk of complications such as failure of osseointegration

or peri-implantitis increases.

Therefore, after allowing sufficient healing time

and once the gum condition has stabilized,

the implant is placed.

The osseointegration process, in which the fixture

firmly bonds with the jawbone,

generally takes 3-6 months.

During this period, regular checkups

are used to monitor the healing process,

and if necessary,

a temporary prosthesis is made

to maintain function and aesthetics.

After osseointegration is complete,

a final prosthesis is made

to restore the natural tooth shape

and function.

Implants themselves do not develop cavities,

but the surrounding gums and bone

are still vulnerable to bacterial infection.

If peri-implantitis develops,

it can progress even faster than periodontal disease in natural teeth,

so special caution is required.

For daily oral care,

it is effective to use auxiliary tools such as

interdental brushes or a water flosser along with a regular toothbrush.

In particular, maintaining cleanliness between implants and natural teeth,

as well as along the gum line,

is important.

You should receive instruction on proper toothbrushing methods

and interdental cleaning techniques,

and continue to practice them consistently. In conclusion, when interdental spacing

and periodontal disease occur at the same time,

it is important to address the underlying cause

rather than simply relieving the symptoms.

Implant treatment is one way to comprehensively

resolve these complex issues,

but to improve the success rate of treatment,

accurate diagnosis, systematic planning,

and ongoing management must be in place.

This has been Yeo Sang-ho, Director of Songjeong Station Dental Clinic.